Press Conference of Deputy Prime Minister Niko Peleshi:

I would like to share with the public some information about the emergency situation created by the weather conditions in the country, until 09:00this morning, on 19 November.

We are all witnesses of the yesterday’s aggravated situation in the majority of the territory as a result of rainfall and severe storms. Before presenting an overview of the situation and the measures taken for its normalization, allow me to express condolences on behalf of the Albanian Government to the families of the three lives lost yesterday night.

Immediately after the situation created by the heavy rainfall in some areas of the country, a coordination group was launched in the Prime Minister’s Office to assess needs and determine measures for a quick normalization of the situation.

As a result of the maximum engagement with logistical means and people from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Energy and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Health, who are members of the coordination group, today the situation in the country appears normal in most districts and is moving toward full normalization in the regions of Fier and Lezha.

From the information received in the Operational Directorate of Civil Emergency Management Coordination, the situation is as follows:

Precipitation ceased in the district of Lezha at 01:00 after midnight. After an intense work by firefighters, KESH and OSSH, water was removed from the substations of Lezha and energy was reactivated for all operators of both waterworks and of the local government units.

In the entire region of Lezha, the situation has gone back to normal and Drainage Board forces are working intensively to remove water from agricultural lands. Firefighters are still removing water from flooded homes.

Today at 10:00 am, under the direction of the Prefect of Lezha, the Emergency Commission of the district met once again to analyze the situation after reactivation of the waterworks and pumps in Balldre, Shengjin and Lezha, and to take measures for assisting residents whose homes have been affected by flooding.

In the municipalities of Balldren, Blinisht and Shngjin precipitation have ceased and the situation is becoming normal due to the removal of water from the waterworks by means of full capacity suction pumps.

For the normalization of the situation in Lezha, 80 military troops and dozens of means were engaged to block and remove water. In addition, barriers were put in several businesses and residences, to prevent flooding.

A problematic situation was presented also regarding water supply in the Regional Hospital of Lezha, a problem which is now fully addressed, ensuring drinking water via trucks to normalize the situation.

Heads of Units of Local Government are assessing the damage through the Committee of Planning and Facing Civil Emergencies. In addition, they are reporting on measures taken to restore normalcy in the territories of the units that have responsibility, as emergency staffs under the direction of prefects have been launched and are operating in every region of the country, even in the districts slightly affected or not affected at all by the floods, so that today every district is able to face any possible flooding.

In the region of Tirana, rainfall stopped at 24:00 and the situation is normalized. Firefighters are working to remove inert materials and water from some houses and first floors of buildings at “Don Bosco” street, at “Komuna e Parisit”, at “Medar Shtylla”, “Kombinat”, “Kodra e Priftit”, “Sami Frasheri “and in other streets.

In Paskuqan and Laknas the situation is normalized and problems are being addressed for some agricultural lands that were flooded.

There have been some problems in four villages in the municipalities of Libofshë and Allkaj, district of Fier, where water entered some houses, 5 of which were flooded. Families in these flats were evacuated initially and then work started to remove water.

In the district of Gjirokastra rainfalls have been not intense and have caused no flooding. At the entrance road to the town of Gjirokastra, the inert materials have come down from the Castle and blocked the main road. Works are being carried out intensively since the early hours of the morning to open the road.

In the district of Durres, heavy rainfalls caused problems in the city of Durres, in the roundabout of Shkozet, in the Currila road and in the Swamp road near the Port. The situation was normalized in the morning.

The districts of Shkoder, Elbasan, Korca, Vlora and Gjirokastra have not had any other problem because of the rainfalls.

Meanwhile, the Coordination Group will continue to follow the situation closely, to fully address the problems encountered.